What’s it all about?
He’s Stick Man, he’s Stick Man, he’s Stick Man, that’s him.
He’s chosen to go for a run, on a whim.
But he doesn’t know of the perils there’ll be,
To halt his return to the family tree.
How do they tell the story?
That’s enough of me branching out into rhyme, especially as Julia Donaldson’s famous couplets are left in the background for this stage adaptation.
Instead, music and sound effects delightfully leap to the fore as a team of three multi-purpose performers take on myriad roles to tell this family favourite tale.
What should I look out for?
Stick Man – Live On Stage is packed with glorious invention and sparkling imagination; its sparse set and simple props transformed into our woody chum’s dangerous diversions. A trio of umbrellas become a stormy ocean, a woolly hat changes an actress into a stick-hungry dog. It’s the type of wonderful theatricality that both entrances kids and gets their creativity going.
What did the kids like best?
Judging from the noise levels, the smattering of chances to help Stick Man get home to his Stick Lady Love and his stick children three went down a treat.
In a nutshell?
Don’t leaf it too late to see this twig-tastically imaginative Donaldson adaptation. A perfect festive treat for the whole family – sticks or otherwise.
Will my little ones like it?
They’ll love it. When I saw the show, the auditorium switched from rapt silence to raucous uproar with not a murmur of discontent between. With a special appearance from a certain bearded present-deliverer, what more could you want this Christmas?
Trip tip?
Keep an eye out for the booster seats if your little one is quite little. You can find them on the way into the auditorium or at the side of the stage.
Stick Man – Live On Stage plays at the Leicester Square Theatre until 3 January. You can book tickets through the theatre’s website.